Prasophyllum pyriforme
E.Coleman Silurian Leek-orchidFlowering stem slender to stout, 30–60 cm tall. Leaf-blade 10–25 cm long, 3–6 mm diam. at base, apex suberect, senescent at flowering time. Flowers 30–50, green to greenish brown, pink or mauve, fragrant, in a crowded spike 10–15 cm long; ovary obovoid, 4–6 mm long; sepals 8–11 mm long, dorsal sepal ovate-lanceolate, lateral sepals usually fused for much of their length, linear-lanceolate, recurved, parallel; petals linear-oblong, 7–9 mm long. Labellum subsessile, porrect, 6–8 mm long, recurved at about right angles near middle, lamina usually pink or white, margins irregular; callus plate prominently raised, greenish, wrinkled, broad at base then tapered, extending almost to the labellum apex. Column appendages linear, c. 2 mm long. Flowers Nov.–Dec.
LoM, Wim, GleP, VVP, VRiv, GipP, OtP, Gold, CVU, GGr, EGL, WPro, HSF, HNF, VAlp. HSF. Endemic to Victoria, where now known from a single site at Croydon North. Previously widespread and abundant in the foothills of the outer north and east of Melbourne with records from Healeville, Warburton, Woori Yallock, Mooralbark, Gembrook, Emerald, Belgrave South, Ferntree Gully, St Andrews, and Steeles Creek. Occurs in hill country woodlands and open forests on well-drained clay loams.
Records of this species in South Australia, New South Wales, and Tasmania, as well as all Victorian records beyond the outer north and east of Melbourne, are now considered referable to other similar or related species including Prasophyllum barnettii, P. gilgai, P. hygrophilum, P. maccannii, and P. readii.
Spinning